Overview & Reviews

Toyota is a Japanese brand whose refined, well-designed vehicles have earned it a great deal of popularity. Toyotas also have a superb record for reliability and durability, which goes a long way toward justifying their typically high purchase prices. For buyers who plan on owning their new vehicles for a long time, the Toyota marque is a very compelling choice.

The automaker's name is a variation of the surname of its founder, Kiichiro Toyoda. After years of research, Toyoda unveiled his first prototype, the A1, in 1935, marking the birth of the Toyota Motor Corporation. The '40s witnessed the launch of additional passenger cars and even a pickup. By the end of the decade, the automaker had produced more than 100,000 vehicles.

Toyota grew bigger in the '50s and expanded its roster with a slew of new small cars. The company also unveiled the utilitarian BJ truck; this vehicle was the precursor to the Land Cruiser. By the end of the decade, Toyota had commenced exports to the U.S. with the establishment of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. The first Toyota to be sold on American shores was the Crown; it held the distinction of being the first Japanese car to be sold Stateside.

The '60s witnessed even more growth for the emerging juggernaut. Toyota introduced the Corolla, an immensely popular model that is still in production today. Vehicles like the home-market Publica, the 2000GT, Hiace and Miniace were also launched. The decade closed with Toyota reporting annual domestic sales of 1 million units; cumulative exports also reached 1 million.

Japanese-market cars like the Carina, Light Ace and Publica Starlet were launched during the 1970s. In the States, the Corolla grew in popularity and the Corona and Mk II models debuted as well. The successful Celica sports coupe was also rolled out and would remain in production for more than 30 years. Toyota's shadow had spread far beyond Japan by this point. The decade's oil crisis had made the manufacturer's compact, fuel-efficient models more popular than ever in the United States. By the time the '70s drew to a close, the automaker had exported more than 10 million vehicles.

Toyota expanded its presence in the U.S. market during the '80s, with the introduction of popular models like the 4Runner SUV and the MR2 sports car. The true high point of these years, though, was the birth of the Toyota Camry sedan. Originally known as the Celica Camry in Japan, the car went on to be a hit of phenomenal proportions, earning kudos as America's best-selling car of the year time and time again.

During the '90s, Toyota rolled out the Avalon full-size sedan and expanded its selection of SUVs with the compact RAV4. By the end of the decade, more than 100 million Toyota vehicles had been produced in Japan. The company also proved itself on the cutting edge of new technology with the rollout of the Prius, the world's first mass-produced hybrid. The car debuted in Japan in 1997; by 2001, the fuel-sipping sedan had made its way to American highways. Despite the presence of a growing number of competitors in its segment, the Prius continues to boast class-leading sales.

Toyota's current lineup is relatively extensive, including minivans, cars, trucks and SUVs. The brand remains extremely popular among savvy consumers who place a high value on quality and dependability.

User Reviews:

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  I love my truck - 2000 Toyota Tacoma
  By Jordan - November 3 - 3:16 am

  This little truck is a beast, and more reliable than you can imagine. I bought it with 30k miles and have put 80k on it since. I have driven it all over Oregon and put it through its paces. I have taken it off road, put hours of stop and go traffic on the engine and loaded the bed with concrete and dirt with only one problem. The thermostat went out on a three hour trip to the coast. After I fixed the problem the truck has recovered just fine and has gotten the job done every time. It has 110k miles on it and the only thing I have ever had to do is change the lubricants, tires, and thermostat. Reliable. 18mpg winter/21 mpg city.

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  Small but good - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By Matt - November 3 - 2:13 am

  After 5600 miles with 4500 of those on vacation and road trips i can say that this 09 Corolla is worth a look at. The steering is not what some say you get used to it in fact it feels better than our 00 Lexus RX300 to me. I have had 6 new cars since 1998 (3 Hondas, 1 Subaru 2 Toyotas) and this is a good value. I am 5-11 210 lbs and the ride on trips is great the MP3 is great I am getting 32-38 and it is not even broken in. I have a friend that has a 2003 he put over 300k then sold it now has a 2006 with 110k and no issues. He gets over 40 mpg all the time on the hwy.

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  farewell GM - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By Toyota Convert - November 2 - 3:46 pm

  We love our 05 Sienna!!It is a great buy for the money. Toyota minivans are superior in all respects--- most notably dependability and quality of workmanship. Our salesman assured us that although we purchased an extended warranty until 100K miles---we will not need it on the power train. Thus far our van has been to the dealership for oil changes and washes!! Goodbye GM- Toyota we love you!

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  Best midsize truck on the market - 2007 Toyota Tacoma
  By Kyle - November 2 - 2:26 pm

  I have owned my 07 Tacoma for a year now and its the best vehicle purchase Ive ever made! It has great power, towing and offroad capability. It is a fun truck to drive on and off road. On the road it drives very smooth. The seats are comfortable and the cab has more room than any other midsize truck that I can think of. Its also Toyota so I know it will last me ages!

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  Toyota Avalon -GRRREAT!!! - 2011 Toyota Avalon
  By barbara weiss - November 2 - 1:12 pm

  Seats are not heated... XM is not included....telephone is not included.... Sun roof advantages and disadvantages...extremely easy to drive and enjoy

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  ECHO can you hear me - 2002 Toyota Echo
  By karma13 - November 2 - 10:00 am

  I was thinking about buying a Honda but I am glad I chose the ECHO. It is alot of fun. It looks kind of like a Jetta but its better becasue its not a vw. I read the reviews where people didnt like the body so much but I love it.

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  what an improvement! - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By matt jones - November 2 - 10:00 am

  i am amazed at the new corolla! it really drives like a $20-25,000 car. very smooth on take off and quiet out on the highway. i think this car is a steal at $14-16,000. it looks great and the stereo is rich and clear. the manual transmission is really smooth and has good pep. i drove the sentra and the civic and while both were nice they really dont compare. why buy a camry?

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  Awesome Car for the money!! - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By Mark Huggins - November 2 - 2:33 am

  My first Toyota and for sure will not be my last. An amazing 40 mpg. Quiet, solid ride, perfect size. Highly recommended.

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  Great Vehicle - 2010 Toyota 4Runner
  By cc757 - November 1 - 4:33 pm

  I just bought a 2010 4runner Limited. Love the new body style. Fit and finish up to the usual Toyo standards. Headliner and carpet seem a little cheap for a vehicle of this price. Leather seats are impeccable. Nice ride and quiet. Brakes seem a little weird. The first 2 inches or so of pedal travel are a little spongy, then with a little more pressure, they grab. Will take a little getting used to. The limited has a back-up camera, but the display on the rear view mirror, while cool, would be aided nicely if they included the "beeper" which is only available on the SR5. If you order crossbars for the roof rack after-market, BEWARE..the end caps must be removed to install them and the caps are VERY fragile ..$56 apiece to replace if you break them.

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  My Dream Vehicle - 2006 Toyota Tacoma
  By Gary (GEE) Duenas - November 1 - 9:10 am

  When I first saw this truck last year, I told my wife thats the Truck for me. 4 Door, Double Cab, Long Bed with a Hood Scoop even (TRD Sport Package). Beautiful Body style (Hardbody & Tuff) and of couse its a freakin Toyota (Bulletproof) Man! And it came in my Favorite Color: Dark (Indigo) Blue! It just needs to be Raised (at least 6") w/35" Tires (Suspesion lift & Wheels & Tires on Order), Put on Cold Air Intake Throttle Body Spacer, Tornado, JBA Headers, TRD Exhaust w/MangnaFlow Muffler, UniChip Computer Chip, GPS/CD & 8 Disc Changer System, DVD Headrest system and a Sunroof. Made it my Own!